Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-22
CAMDEN.
Its Advantages and Disadvantages as
Summer Resort.
"hat Wide-awake Journal Man Sees
and Hears Among its Mountains
and Upon its Shores.

Special Correspondence of the Kennebec
Journal.
CAMDEN, Oct. 20.
Between the Rio Grande and Ouoddy Head
there are only two places where the NOM.
talns run down into the sea- One of these
places is Camden and the other is Bar Har.
oor' or Mount Desert. 1t is some thirty years
ago since the pioneer tourists, including John
Y. Fremont, were first attracted to Mount
Desert by this picturesque and unique feature
and since that time the growth in popularity
OF bar Haroor has been constantly increas-
ing. until today it is the acknowledged spot
where wealth and fashion reign.
While Bar Harbor has attained its wonder.
full prestige as the resort of sociability and
wealth. Camden, whose natural attractions
are in no way second to those of Mount De-
sert, has seemingly been neglected, but the
latter place Is JUS: now attracting the atten.
ton OF people from New York and other
cities who have it in their power to shape the
character and growth of this beautiful town
as the
Future Summer Resort
But there are some difficulties to be met
and overcome, otherwise its growth in this d.
rection will be greatly impeded. Not least
among these obstacles is the fact that some
OF the more desirable points and indentations
OF her beautiful shores are owned by people
VINO are SO very narrow in their capacity to
understand their own interests that thev are
AFRAID TO make price upon the property
which they hold, thus preventing it's being of
any value to anybody. 1t is certainly for
the public interest that these lodges
which have heretofore been occupied by sheen
and rabbits should be sold at a reasonable acre
price to such parties as will come and i'm
prove them, rather than be held in an un-
productive condition, and a price talked
about by the foot-a ridiculous notion, which
seems just now to prevail among original
property holders.
Another great obstacle which must be
overcome is that there is no present com.
munication with the outside world excep. by
steamboat or sailing craft or a stage coach,
which properly belongs back in the former
part of the century. This obstacle will be
very soon overcome, as already company
has been formed and is at present arranging
the details necessary to the construction and
operation of
Standard Gauge Railroad
from Rockport village to connect with the
Knox & Lincoln railroad at Rockland. This
road will be completed within twelve months
and be in season for the summer travel of
1888. The terminus of this road will be at
Rockport village, which is within fifteen
minutes drive of any point in Camden village,
30 that the visiting public will be fully &C
commodated with the termination of the road
at r export.
Everybody who appreciates
Fine Natural scenery
is of the same opinion that there is no place
in New England where nature has been more
generous IN providing the requisite natural
surroundings for charming summer
home, than along the shores of Camden. The
poet and the painter have already commence
rated its charming beauty. In this vicinity
have been lad the scenes of some of the most
fascinating stories Of Oliver Optic and the
Youths Companion, and sketches of its IN
rivaed scenery have delighted the eyes of the
readers of Harper's Weekly and many other
illustrated papers and mag zines.
The mountains which nearly surround the
town of Camden are operated by lovely
valleys and lakes of clear pure water. Mount
Megunticook is an elevation which rises from
tide water to the height of alb )ut 1900 feet
above the sea level by a gradual ascent while
the opposite or Western side is almost per-
pendicular from its highest part till it reaches
the shore of Canaan pond.
On the edge of tins mountsin and along the
shore of this pond for the distance of two
miles is the celebrated
Camden Turnpike,
built many years ago by one of the original
settlers of this town by the name of Barrett,
/ l. h, ,l,
passengers paid toll. 1t was then as it is
now, the main thoroughfsre between Belfast
and Ruckland by the way of Linc0lnville
Center Whoever has heard of Camden has
also heard of its magnificent turnpike.
A few miles to tae West of this lake rises
abruptly a round mountain called Bald
Mountain, at the foot OF which is charming
sheet of water about two miles in
length, and about a mile in width, called
Hosmers Pond. Several years ago this
pond was stocked with black bsss. They
have grown very abundant, and at the pres
ent time no lake in the State affords better
facilities for the rare sport of catching these
gamy fish
Two miles further to the westward still,
rises abruptly to about the same height as
Msguuticook, Ragged Mountain, and mile
further vet to the westward is Mount Pleas
ant. Between these Two mountains Is Oeau.l-
fu sheet of water, the inappropriate name OF
which has been so often repeated in the halls
of our legislature and in our courts of JUS
tce, on the question of utilizing its pure
water in supplying the city of Rockland and
the towns of Camden and Thomaston with
water for fire and domestic purposes. Its
name is familiar to everybody who has
visited the Capital during the last two SEES
sions of the legislature.
oyster River Pond.
This sheet of water contains about 250
acres. 1t is very deep, and the boys who re-
side near it believe what they say when they
tell visiting strangers that there is one place
where there is no bottom. Along the shore
of this pond is the main road from Union
Common to Rocklsnd Nearly all the lime
casks that supply the eighty lime kiins of
Rockland are carried over this road from
Union and Appleton. The approach to all
these different mountains from Camden
Village is over roads along the
shores of clear lakes, tnr ough
arIo Ia.